Friday, August 21, 2009

How’s That Government-run Health Care Working Out Britain? » The Foundry

How’s That Government-run Health Care Working Out Britain? » The Foundry: "Family told by NHS: Alzheimer’s is not a ‘health condition’

NHS Worcestershire ruled that Judith Roe, 74, did not qualify for NHS funding because her condition was a “social” rather than “health” problem, even though she was so ill she could not make a cup of tea and regularly left the stove on.

She was forced to sell her £200,000 home to pay her £600-a-week nursing home fees, which would have been funded if she had been categorised correctly.

Mrs Roe’s family appealed to the Health Service Ombudsman, which ruled that Mrs Roe’s assessment had been incorrect and her treatment should have been funded by the NHS. NHS Worcestershire has now reimbursed them for six years of care.

Her son, Richard, 40, urged other families in a similar situation to fight for the care they are entitled to.

He said: “The way the health trust behaved was scandalous. It has been very stressful."

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